Necktie knot clasp



Nov. 3, 1953 A. B. TREDWAY 57, 0

NECKTIE mm" CLASP Filed Jan. 51, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 [27/49/7/01. A li edn ay I )Ztaozney Nov., 3, 1953 A. B. TREDWAY NECKTIE KNOT CLASP Filed Jan. 31, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Jr/422750;? A .5 72a QWay Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NECKTIE KNOT CLASP Alfred B. Tredway, Conway, Ark.

Application January 31, 1951, Serial No. 208,695

5 Claims.

The instant invention relates to necktie knot clasps and more particularly to such a clasp which eliminates the necessity of tieing a com plete conventional knot at the top of the necktie, resulting among other advantages, in an increase in the life of the latter.

A primary aim is the making of a device of the character indicated which will constitute an ornamental adjunct to mens apparel and simultaneously do away with the most troublesome step in making the knot of a four-in-hand tie or the like, namely, bringing the large end of the tie through the overlapped portions thereof when completing the making of the tie knot.

. Still another object is the construction of a clasp of thetype specified which is formed of relatively few parts; is easy to use, and is generally well adapted for its intended function.

The above and other aims and objects will be apparent from the detailed description hereinafter appearing when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings forming a part hereof to which attention is now directed and in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the novel necktie knot clasp.

Fig. 2 is a lower edge view of the heart-shaped annular frame portion of the clasp.

Fig. 3 is a view taken at. right angles to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing an extended position of the annular frame with respect to the clip portion of the clasp.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the annular frame in downward position.

Fig. 6 is a view showing the clasp fastened in operative position on the loop portions of a necktie but prior to passing the large end of the tie through the heart-shaped frame.

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the large end passed through the frame and as the necktie would appear when worn by a user; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8--8 of Fig. '7.

Referring now to the several views in which like reference characters denote like parts, the novel necktie knot clasp is generally designated as K and comprises two principal parts, namely, a spring metal clip identified by the reference character C and an annular frame F, the latter being roughly heart-shaped. The clip and frame are Pivotally connected to each other in a manner to be described more in detail hereinafter.

Clip C is formed of a flat spring metal strip and has two spaced substantially parallel arms l0 and l I connected by an enlarged bottom loop [2, arm ll having a terminal section l3 bent sligthly outwardly to form the mouth is leadin to the space between the arms. Arm It further has a short arm [5 spaced forwardly thereof and connected thereto by an enlarged upper loop it. A pair of spaced inwardly directed flanges ll and i8 are carried by arm IS on opposed edges and adjacent the lower terminal portion thereof, also said arm has a longitudinal slot l9 extending therethrough and located adjacent said pairs of flanges. The upper loop it normally tends to force short arm l5 inwardly toward arm it with said flanges overlapping the side edges of the latter, see Fig. 5.

Annular frame F is preferably formed of a piece of unitary metal stock narrower than that of the clip C and as will be seen is roughly of heart-shape and includes sides 2!! and 2t converging downwardly and connected at 22 and an upper bridging member 23 fastened to the side members 20 and 2! at 24 and 25, respectively. It will further be seen by reference to Fig. 1 that the junction of the side 20 to bridge 23 takes the form of .a laterally extending loop 25 and similarly the junction of the side 2! with said bridge takes the form of a like opposed laterally extending loop 21. Looking at Figs. 2' and 3 it will be observed that the constituent elements of frame F are not in the same plane, side members Zil and 2! being bowed upwardly to project above convex bridge 23, while connection 22 lies substantially in the plane of the loops 26 and 21. It will also be noted that bridge 23 extends inwardly toward loop 22 at its central portion 28; also that said central portion is characterized by a short relatively wide spanner section provided with a pin 29 projecting from the lower edge thereof.

The frame member F and clip C may be assembled by grasping short spring arm i5 and moving same forwardly toincrease the distance between it and arm ill. Central portion spanner 2B ofbridge 23 is then moved between said arms into the space intermediate the spaced flanges H and I8 and pin 29 inserted to project forwardly through longitudinal slot H3. The width of spanner element 28 is greater than the normal distance between the arms it. and i5 so that the spring action of arm I5 will hold the spanner and the frame F at substantially right angles to the clip when the spanner is disposed transversely between the elements If and Ill, as in Fig. 4, the pin 29 then being in its upper limit of movement in slot i9. When frame F is moved to the position of Fig. 5, or in substantial parallelism with clip C pin 29 will be in its lowermost position in slot [9, and due to the spring arm It being thus released, by spanner member 28, it will assume normal position with the pairs of flange H and I8 overlapping the opposed edges of arm ll]. It will also be apparent that said flanges serve to restrain angular movement of frame F in a vertical plane.

Turnin now to Figs. 6, 7 and 8, there is illustrated the manner in which the novel clasp K is applied to a necktie N. Here a four-in-hand necktie is shown although it will be understood that said clasp may be similarly used with other ties, such for example, as a Windsor tie. The central portion 36 of the tie is passed around the neck of the user in the usual manner with the narrow end 3! held to hang downwardly while the wide end 32 is lapped thereabout to form a partially completed knot. At this stage the mouth it of the clip C is moved upwardly to receive the outer of the overlapping looped portions of wide end 32 between arms iii and H, as shown in Fig. 6, while the narrow end 3! of the tie is held as shown. The frame F is then pivotally swung upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 4 where it is held in the manner described while the wide end 752 of necktie N is passed therethrough, after which the frame is moved downwardly to take the final position shown in Figs. 5 and 7, and when in this position the end of pin 23 will serve (particularly if pointed) to engage or penetrate the fabric of the tie and thus prevent upward displacement of the outermost lap of the wide end of the tie.

It will be appreciated that the modus operandi of the clip and clasp set out in the aforementioned paragraph eliminates complete formation of the conventional knot while completely hiding clip C.

Loop 22 of the frame F presses inwardly against the front of the tie to hold the clasp in place; also by the provision of loops 25 and 2?, neckties of varying widths may be accommodated. In appearance the annular frame member tends to suggest a tied knot; it is also pleasing to the eye. Preferably, this member is formed of plated metal stock to give a gold or silver effect and may have initials or other ornaments afiixed thereto.

From the above it will be appreciated that the various aims and objects of the invention have been attained. Also, that minor changes may be made in the specific embodiment shown as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. It is contemplated to cover all such changes and to be limited in this respect only as may be neces sary by the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

1. In a necktie knot clasp, a clip comprising a pair of spaced parallel arm members, a spring arm secured near one end to one or said members and normally disposed in spaced parallelism therewith, a loop member broadened at one side to provide a spanner, said spanner disposed between said spring arm and clip member, the thickness of said spanner being less than the distance between said spring arm and said member and the breadth of said spanner being greater than such distance, means for holding the spanner between the said spring arm and said clip member, said spring arm having a 1ongitudinal slot therein, and a pin member secured to said spanner and projecting through said slot.

2. In a necktie knot clasp, a cli comprising an elongated body having spaced inner and outer parallel arms connected at their lower ends and adapted to receive a portion of a necktie between them, an annular frame pivoted at one side to the said outer arm near the top thereof extending laterally beyond the sides of said arms and through which a portion of said tie may be extended, and spring means on said outer arm adjacent the pivotal connection of said frame to normally urge the said frame and the tie portion therein against said clip.

3. In a necktie knot clasp, a clip comprising an elongated body having spaced inner and outer parallel arms connected at their lower ends and adapted to receive a portion of a necktie between them, an open frame pivoted at one side to said outer arm near the top thereof with its free end normally disposed near the lower end of said body and having portions projecting laterally beyond both sides of said body, and means on said outer arm cooperating with said frame at the pivotal connection therewith to releasably hold said frame at substantially right angles to said clip and also to releasably hold said frame in substantial parallelism therewith.

4. In a necktie knot clasp, a clip comprising a pair of spaced parallel'arm members, a spring arm secured near one end to one of said members and normally disposed in spaced parallelism therewith, a closed loop of suiiicient width to receive therein a portion of a tie and flattened at one side to provide a spanner, said spanner disposed between said spring arm and said clip member, the thickness of said spanner being less than the distance between said spring arm and said member and the breadth of said spanner being greater than such distance, pivot means for holding the spanner between the said spring arm and said clip member, said spring arm having a longitudinal slot therein, and a pin member secured to said spanner and projecting through said slot, whereby the said spring arm will hold said closed loop in either parallelism with said clip or at right angles thereto.

5. In a necktie knot clasp, an elongated clip formed of flat spring metal bent upon itself to form a pair of spaced substantially parallel arms to receive a part of a tie between them, one end of one of said arms bent upon itself to provide a short spring arm with its free end normally and yieldingly maintained in relatively close relationship with the arm of which it is a part, a closed loop of sufficient width to r ceive therein 'a portion of a tie and flattened at one side to provide a spanner, said spanner ivotally disposed between the free end of said short spring arm and the clip arm of which it is a part, the thickness of said spanner being substantially equal to the normal distance between said short spring arm end and the adjacent clip arm and of a breadth greater than such distance, whereby the spring action of said short spring arm against the flattened portion. of said spanner will maintain the said loop member normally in substan tial parallelism with said clip, and when engaged with the edges of said spanner will hold the said loop member at substantially right angles to said clip.

ALFRED B. TREDW'AY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

